What determines on Inspection I which cabin microfilter the dealer installs, the carbon one or the non-carbon filter? Thanks

 

The weasles probably stick in the non-charcoal flavor.

I pulled the factory filter out to inpect it. The bugger was really dirty and full of pine needles and tree stuff. Rinsed it through with water and Simple Green to flush out cigarette smell. Okay, it's cheap but the dealer is 300 mi. away and the Brown Truck would take a week. Anyway, the filter when air dried was examined under a lamp and held up to the sun. I didn't see or feel any activated charcoal chunks embedded between the layers.

The filter is quite long with pleated fiber material in construction. I don't recommend the water flush but I doubt it hurts, it's a car not a building HVAC system. The supply duct has leaks so a snotty charcoal filter sounds good but you got to question the extra expense for uh, what? I picked up a couple oil filters and the basic paper duct filter last vist at the stealer. They stuck one in on that visit (10,000) but I probably won't check it out. Your MINI may eat two filters a year if it's parked near tree world.

 

The way I understood it to be was that if you have the auto a/c then you have the charcoal filter and if you have the regular "3-dial" HVAC then you have the paper filter.

Anyway, I have the auto a/c and I can tell you that FOR SURE the filter was replaced at inspection I. I know because I already replaced one a year ago, which was the original. I just checked 3 days ago, after I got the car back from inspection I. So now I'm on my 3rd since birth in December of 02. MINI won't replace one "for free" until inspection I. Anybody get lucky and get a freebie before then?

The charcoal filter is $51.00 if my memory serves me correctly. I check it at least once a year now, given how quickly it got gunked up . The replacement takes 10 minutes, but it is best done lying on your back in the passenger footwell.

 

Just a bit of a BUMP
I just put a new filter in ... now my little world is better.
(very easy to do)
$37 at Bravarian Autosport for the charcoal filter.

bavauto.com

 

Where is the filter located? In the cowl or inside the vehicle?

 

The R50,52,53 are in the cabin behind or right under the glovebox. I have replaced mine when I first got my R52 and on my Son's R50. Very, very easy to do and i got my filters on Amazon for under 20 bucks. Not planning on doing my cabrio for a long time as I run with the top down and AC off most of the time.

 

This should help.

I replaced mine yesterday. Glad I did... it was gross.